You’ll find #FoodHeroes at your local school cafeterias, neighborhood senior centers, and community food banks.

They are volunteers, they are social workers, and oftentimes, they are unsung and uncelebrated, but one thing about them is for certain— nonprofits and food bank workers across Santa Clara County are now needed more than ever. They are the #SiliconValleyStrongHeroes.

“It has been very rewarding to help clients during these very difficult and unprecedented times, said Alex Kogan, 43, an eligibility intake worker with CalFresh Food.

“Clients have expressed gratitude and appreciation on numerous occasions.”

Food banks and food distribution sites have seen a sharp increase in demand.

For food bank workers and social workers who are working hard to fill the food void brought on by the shelter-in-place order, their work is the result of a collaboration between food assistance programs and food banks.

Social workers like Kogan help residents in need apply for food assistance benefits through CalFresh Food, California’s name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP), an assistance program that supports low-income families, and even those temporarily impacted.

“Clients receive benefits on a monthly basis,” said Kogan, a native of Odessa, Ukraine, who now lives in Santa Clara County, the first county in the nation to announce a shelter-in-place order in response to COVID-19.

“It is easier to sign up now compared to before due to COVID 19. Certain requirements [such as] a face-to-face intake interview has been waived.”

But what happens when residents need food now? CalFresh food benefits allows residents with food assistance in the form of an Electronic Based Transfers (EBT) card, but where do they go in the meantime? 

Founded in 1974 and based in Silicon Valley, @Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara is one of the largest food banks in California.

According to Second Harvest, the San Jose based food bank provides a direct-service program for seniors, families with children, and individuals.

Before the shelter-in-place order was announced back in March, Second Harvest volunteers contributed over 314,000 hours to organizing, packaging, and distributing food for families in need, an estimated value of $7.2 million dollars.

Food banks and food nutrition sites are key resources for families in need.

#FoodHeroes from the South Bay’s largest food bank are usually volunteers, but just like their CalFresh food counterparts, helping residents in need is not just a necessity— it’s become our new reality.

“These programs are making a tremendous difference, especially now with drastically increased unemployment,” said Kogan.

“Regular CalFresh allotment as well as Disaster CalFresh allotments play a critical role in enabling households to make ends meet.”

According to Elena Kadvany of Palo Alto Weekly, Second Harvest has seen a dramatic rise in demand, serving about 270,000 people a month to 500,000, an increase of nearly 85 percent.

The donations-based food bank, together with CalFresh Food, was one of the first Santa Clara County nonprofits to begin expanding operations as demand quickly rose.

Together, #FoodHeroes from Second Harvest and CalFresh Food are working in tandem to help alleviate food insecurity in Santa Clara County. Whether it's providing food to families in need or helping residents apply for food assistance benefits.

In Santa Clara County— it’s all hands-on deck.

“I would encourage families to apply for CalFresh as soon as possible to alleviate the feeling of food insecurity, Kogan explained.

“I have helped many clients increase their monthly CalFresh allotment by processing mid-period reports such as lower or terminated income. It has been rewarding to be able to help the clients in need.”

Visit GetCalFresh.org to apply or call 1-877-847-3663 (FOOD) to be connected to your local county social service office. You can also go to @2ndharvest of Silicon Valley shfb.org/getfood or call 1-800-984-3663 and one of their Food Connection Specialists can help you find out if you qualify. #SiliconValleyStrong #SVEats #KeepSVHealthy